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Technically, all asparagus varieties can be blanched to produce white spears, but Voltaire has been bred specifically for the job. It is widely used by European growers to achieve the stark white spears known as spargel. White asparagus is more tender than green, with a milder, almost nutty flavour. Traditional growers pile soil or sand up around the spears as they emerge in spring, but black mulch can also be used. It may be simpler to use some kind of wooden box or inverted trash can to keep the spears in the dark as they grow. Left unblanched, Voltaire will produce tasty green spears.
Voltaire is a clonal hybrid that produces vigorous, tall, all male plants. It is early yielding (once established), and adapted to temperate climates. It boasts a high resistance to Purple Spot, and intermediate resistance to Rust.
Hybrid seeds.
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Latin
Latin
Asparagus officinalis.
Family: Asparagaceae
Difficulty
Difficulty
Moderately difficult. Requires patience!
Season
Season: Cool season.
Exposure: Full-sun.
Zone: Hardy to Zone 2
Timing
Timing
Start seeds indoors during winter through springΒ under bright lights.Β There will be no harvest from these these long-lived perennials until 3 years after transplanting, so be patient. Soil temperature for germination: 21β30ΒΊC (70β85ΒΊF).
Starting
Starting
Soak seeds for 2 hours. Plant 1 seed per 5cm (2β³) pot, 1cm (Β½β) deep. Keep in a warm place. Be patient: they can take 2-8 weeks to sprout depending on soil temperature.Β
Growing
Growing
Transplant when seedlings are 10-12 weeks old and danger of frost has passed. Space 45cm (18β³) apart in rows 1-2m (3-6β²) apart.Β Transplant each plant in a hole 10cm (4")Β deep and gradually cover the crown with soil as it grows. For thicker spears, space 30-35cm (12-14β³) apart and set buds 15-20cm (6-8β³) in the hole. For thinner spears, space 20-25cm (8-10β³) with the buds 10cm (4β³) deep.Fertilize after harvest and again in the spring with 1-2 cups of complete organic fertilizer per 3m (10β²) of row, worked in lightly. Asparagus needs 2cm (1β³) of water per week. In late fall, trim ferns down to 5cm (2β³) and dispose of cuttings to avoid future disease and insect problems.
Harvest
Harvest
Itβs important to not harvest until the third year so that plants can become established and strong. Then harvest over a 2-3 week period. Cut the fattest spears off at ground level when they are 15-20cm (6-10β³) long. When thinner spears begin to emerge let them to grow into big fronds to nourish the roots. With each successive year the harvest lengthens to a maximum of 6-8 weeks. Store in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel.
Seed Info
Seed Info
In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate. Usual seed life:Β 2 years.
Diseases & Pests
Diseases & Pests
Rust, fusarium wilt, and fusarium stem and crown rot can all be problems. Using seed started in sterile soil instead of purchased plants, and planting in soil that has no history of disease will keepΒ asparagus plants healthy.
Asparagus beetles can defoliate the ferns of the asparagus plant. They overwinter in the top growth, so thorough removal of the fronds in the fall (after they have died) is vital. In a small garden, simply hand-pick the voracious insects.
Encouraging beneficials like ladybugs reduces aphids. Aphids are usually found together on growing tips (look for the sooty blotches they leave behind).
Companion Planting
Companion Planting
Companion planting is a cornerstone of organic gardening. Carefully choose companions to reduce your need for pesticides. Plant asparagus seeds or crowns with asters, basil, cilantro, dill, cilantro, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, sage, and thyme. Asparagus repels nematodes that attack tomatoes, and tomatoes repel asparagus beetles. We have a full list of companions to consider.
West Coast Seeds is a family-owned company that embraces an organic lifestyle. A group of imagination catalysts and passionate educators, dedicated to producing products and services that better the environment. As part of our mission to repair the earth, we aim to inspire and empower people to take responsibility for the state of the planet. For us, organic is about much more than saying no to chemicals, it is about saying yes to building a healthy soil for the future.
For over 35 years, we have upheld our strong reputation as a leading seed supplier, seeking out the highest quality untreated seeds for organic growing and putting them through rigorous independent testing. We built our company on the exchange of generational wisdom in a masterclass community of newbies and masters alike. Our world may have changed, but our commitment to our people, our customers, and our planet has not.
Weβre a values-based business that has blossomed into a lifestyle ethos, with products that support seeders, feeders, keepers, and the tiniest of creepers. Our mission? To mobilize the next generation of gardeners with products that nourish soil and grow vigorous, sustainable gardens. We believe all plants should be grown without the use of chemicals, and that the seeds we supply are an important component of regenerative gardening.
We donβt just offer seeds, we offer experience, insight, and understanding. From timeless garden wisdom to new tech know-how, this is learning on the job: knowledge gleaned not from the pages of a book but from burying our fingers in the soil. We test, experiment, observe and adapt, never happier than when we get to share what weβve learned with others.
Gardens donβt just grow seeds. They grow minds and imaginations, people and communities. Our vision encompasses both the micro and the macro. We eat locally, protect pollinators, teach people to grow from seed, and support regional biodiversity. We think big but act small and deliver unexpected impact β always with community and purpose.
At West Coast Seeds we believe in the power of small and that little can be large. Like the tiniest seed germinates to evoke incremental change with massive potential, so to can our community of gardeners and growers together. Gardeners are the earthβs stewards, planting seeds of creative declaration. The soil provides the canvas, we provide the seeds.
Start seeds indoors February to May under bright lights. There will be no harvest from these these long-lived perennials until 3 years after transplanting, so be patient!
Soak seeds for 2 hours. Plant 1 seed per 5cm (2β) pot, 1cm (1β2β) deep. Keep in a warm place. Be patient: seeds can take 2-8 weeks to sprout depending on soil temperature.
Ideal pH: 6.5-7.0
Transplant when seedlings are 10-12 weeks old and danger of frost has passed. Prepare beds by digging deeply in well-drained soil. Add a lot of compost or manure, and a handful of complete organic fertilizer for each plant. Space plants
45cm (18β) apart in rows 120cm (48β) apart..
In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate.
Usual seed life: 2-3 years.
Itβs important to not harvest until the third year so that plants can become established and strong. Then harvest over a 2-3 week period. Cut the fattest spears off at ground level when they are 15-20cm (6-10β³) long. When thinner spears begin to emerge let them to grow into big fronds to nourish the roots. With each successive year the harvest lengthens to a maximum of 6-8 weeks. Store in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel.
Asparagus beetles can defoliate the ferns of the asparagus plant. They overwinter in the top growth, so thorough removal of the fronds in the fall (after they have died) is vital. In a small garden, simply hand-pick the voracious insects.
Encouraging beneficials like ladybugs reduces aphids. Aphids are usually found together on growing tips (look for the sooty blotches they leave behind).
